Animal feeding device



Filed Dec. 9, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y Allomcy Sep't, 20, 1932. w. HoDKlNsoN ANIMAL FEEDING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 9, 1950 Homey PAr-ENroFl-lca WILLIAMHODKINSON, or VAnsar, ILLINOIS l .ANIMAL T EEIEDINGA-V DEVICE .Application mea December s, 1930. 'serial No. 501,148.

This invention relates to av farmappliance or lapparatus which is primarily designed for watering and feeding hogs. f

' The invention has more particular reference to astructure of thisy general classification which is characterized byV an appropriate concrete foundation or base having an elevated ortion su 3 ort-inoa food and water containing tank and a relatively low portion supporting lan especially designed trough, there being an intervening fence constituting a part ofthe pig pen between the trough and tank and said trough and tank havingintercommunicating connection.

One feature of the vinventive conception is predicated upon` a portable tank'recep-y tacle characterized by hinged lids forming an appropriate closure wherein said. tank is provided at-one end with an appropriate discharge spout for feeding the food, slop,

and waterloyl gravity through the pen and into the receiving trough. Y

A further structural feature is founded upon a removablerigging within the discharge end of the tank embodying a plug valve for either closing or regulating the discharge of materials from the tank.

A further feature is founded on the utilization in the tank of an apertured paddle which is rockably mounted and provided with suitable actuating means and designed` to function as an agitator for mixing and stirring the contents of vthe tank, whereby .to Acondition the material and to aid in ejecting it through the outlet spout.

"Then, too7 in carrying the invention into practice, I have evolvedand producedI a simplified form of trough characterizedby ay sturdy and V- shaped yreceptacle and an overhead guard including spacingelements permitting free access'tobe. had to the contents of the trough and at the same time preventing the animals from climbing into the trough or contaminating the trough contents by sticking the feet into the trough.

Other features and advantages will be- Vcome more readily apparent from the following description and drawings. In the draw- "ngs: Y

Figure 1 is aside elevational view ofther .Y

through the tank. n

Figure 5 is a detail view of the-trough construction. Y Y

In Figure 1, the numeral 6 designates generally a divider or'partition which may be-a fence constituting a part of the pig'pen. Located on one side of t-he fence isthe trough 11 and on the'opposite side'is theV tank 8.

As befo-re intimated, the tank is of a portable type and is supported on' the elevated portions 9 of a concrete foundation or base. Suitable retaining'elements 10 are provided for-aiding in maintaining the tank 8 in place.

rlhe trough 7 is supported on the relatively low extension lOof the foundation. The body portion of the trough comprises V- shaped receptacle including downwardly converging walls or boards 11 attached to end members 12. rIhe end members extend outwardly beyond the walls 11 to provide suitable supports to prevent tilting of the trough. i

VThe end members v12 are connected with the side members 11 through-the medium of hook bolts 13 having retaining nuts 14. lThis facilitates assembly and replacement of parts. The end members 12 afford anti-rocklng supporting devices for the entire trough. The troughv also includes an overhead vguard or grid structure generally denoted by the numeral 15 and this'compr-ises a 'horizontal beam vor reach bar 16 and longitudinally spaced inclined spacing bars 17, the latter being attached tothe side walls of the trough proper. This guard prevents the animals fromv climbing into 'the trough aand-contaminating the food contents.y

i The tankr8 comprisesy a suitable hopper or container 18 of appropriate proportions andV 605 Figure t is a longitudinal sectional'view numerals v28 designate spaced keeper eyes,

shape whose end wall 19 is provided on its upper end with a removable staple 20. The opposite end wall 21 is provided adjacent its bottom with an internally screw-threaded rigidly mounted bushing 22 into which the discharge tube or sleeve 23 is removably threaded. This constitutes the inclinedgravity discharge spout for the contents of the tank. This pipe 23 is of appropriate length to extend through the 'fence and discharge in the trough. V It is removable A:so as to'permit it to be replaced by a closing plug (not shown) and to permit the tankto be employed for other purposes Yon the farm. j

When used as shown' in Fio'ure 4, I'provide a tapered plug valve 24, which `may be arranged to completely or partially close the spout as desired. In other words, it may be partly left opento permit gradual seepage or drainage or completely closed. tocut oli' the supply of food. This plug is carried by depending links 25 pivotally mounted at 26 on an attaching bracket .or fixture 27. The

with which the hooked endsof arduplex con-l nector 29 connect.

The duplex connector 29 is carried by the lower end portion of an operating lever 30 and this lever has a dual eye coupling vat 31 which operatively connects it with the ,valve 24 to permit the valve to be pushed in or out for regulation purposes. Mounted in the opposite end portion o f the hopper 18 is a cross rod 82 on which a paddle 33 is rockably mounted. This paddle constitutes an agitator and is provided with passages or ports 34. Moreover at Vits opposite ends itis pro-y vided with actuating' arms 35 having linger' rings 36. By catching h'old` of thesefinger rings and working the paddle back and-forth,

it will mix and agitate the contents of the hopper to facilitate discharge.

Incidently, when the lever Y this can be swung back andhooked under turning cords38. l t v Y The coverof thechopper comprises ajpair of companion lids 39 appropriately shaped to Yaccommodate the internal mechanism and in a pen or on one side of a dividing fence and supported on the extensionsare the concretefoundation. Secondly, the foodand watering container or tank islocated on'the elevated Y part of the concrete foundation on the oppo- Sgsite side'of the fence, thus makingyit possible v30 is not in use,

; ber for closing the inner end ofthe spout, al

In the Y to permit the tank to be utilized for other purposes on the farm. Then too, the sleeve constituting the discharge spout is removable and replaceableV by a closing plugwhenever nec. essary or desired. A

In addition, the presence of the apertured board on the interior of the hopper constitutes a convenient agitator Vfor mixing and aiding in discharging the contents from the tank into the trough.l All of these details .have been especially selected and accurately organized to permit the device to fulfill the requirements of a structure of this class in a highly satisfactoryv simple and economical manner.

It isl thought that the description taken in connection with the drawings will enable a clear understanding of the invention to be had. Therefore, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary. While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that minor vchanges coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.y

Means for introducing feed into a trough, located in a hog pen comprising anv elevated foundation located outside of the pen, a tank the bore, said spout passing-.through av wall ofthe pen and resting on one end of the trough forA discharging into the trough,a valve memhand lever proj ecting from the tank and con-f nected withthe valve member for moving theV same to open and closed position, and an agita# tor in the tankfor agitating the food therein.

' In testimony whereof I affix my signature. ,120

wiLLniM Hopkinson. 

